Spring winding apparatus



2 SHEETSSI-IEET l April 15, 1952 Filed Oct. 20, 1949 m R ME I NB 9 MO N mnm R S M a W m. w 7 m 7 v 7 7 w n w 4 wa n a 1 0 m ,7 0 O 7 G g 2:: M O I 6 i U U W a a 5 u 2 N F. w Ti 2 5. 2 s n 2 2 If N. z I

April 15, 1952 c, QBERG 2,592,590

SPRING WINDING APPARATUS Filed'oot. 20, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Tia. J.

INVENTOR. CHARLES R. OBERG ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1952 SPRING WINDINGAPPARATUS Charles R. Oberg, San Diego, Calif.

Application October 20, 1949, Serial No. 122,563

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to spring winding p ratus, and more particularly to sprin winding apparatus which is capable of producing springs of a large range of pitch, coil, or wire size; of producing either tension of compression springs, and of producing small quantities of springs with great uniformity, economy, and dispatch; and further, of producing these springs without the necessity of highly skilled craftsmen to operate this apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide spring windin apparatus which is capable of producing uniform compression springs with closed. ends without the necessity of adjusting the apparatus when changing from closed to open coils or vice versa.

A still further object of this invention is to provide spring winding apparatus which will produce either right or left hand springs with the above characteristics.

Another object of this invention is to provide spring winding apparatus which does not kink the spring wire while shifting from closed to open coils or vice versa.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description.

The apparatus of theinstant invention comprisesv generally a frame having a lower V jaw adapted to receive mandrels of different diameters. A portion of the V jaws extends forward from the side of the frame and has a slot at the root of the V. An upper V jaw slidably mounted on the frame serves, in conjunction with said lower jaw, to hold a mandrel rotatably and slidably in the jaws. The mandrel is provided with means for fastening an end of spring wire thereto and with means for rotating the mandrel.

A wire tensioning means mounted on the frame below the lower V jaw has a plate reciprocable generally parallel to the axis of the mandrel and is spring biased toward the frame, by means of adjustable springs, to frictionally tension wire between the plate and the frame. A cam, actuated by a crank, is engageable with the ten sioning means to separate the plate from the frame thereby facilitating the insertion and removal of the wire.

, of the lower V jaw.

Mounted on the frame and reciprocable substantially parallel to the aXis of the mandrel is a guide member, on one end of which a transversely adjustable anvil is mounted, the anvil bein reciprocable in the slot of the lower V jaw extension. The anvil is adapted to press against the wire being wound on the mandrel, in a direction parallel to the axis thereof and away from the frame, thereby determining the spacing between the coils of the wire spring being wound on the mandrel.

Parallel to the guide member, a limit member is mounted to the frame. Mounted on the limit member are a pair of limit stops adapted to be selectively positioned along the limit member. A stop dog secured to the guide member extends between the limit stops to limit the extent of reciprocation of the guide member.-

The guide member is reciprocated by a handle to which it is coupled by means of links. A pawl mounted on the handle engages ratchet teeth on an arcuate member secured to the frame.

The pawl is .spring biased to engage the teeth and serves to prevent movement of the anvil mounted on the guide member away from the wire on the mandrel. A releasing means on the handle serves to lift the pawl from the teeth against the bias of the spring. The arcuate member may be adjusted angularly to eliminate backlash between the pawl and ratchet teeth.

A preferred embodiment of the instant invention has beenillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. l is a side view of the spring winding apparatus, partially broken away, in position for winding closed coils in a spring;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, showing the relationship between the guide member and the limit member;

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a view showing the mechanism for moving and locking the guide member.

Referring to the drawings, ll designates a frame having a lower V jaw l2 mounted thereon adapted to receive mandrels of different diameters, the V jaw 12 consisting of a front portion I 3 and a rear portion It to increase the bearing surface and thereby to better support the mandrel l6 therein. The front portion of the V jaw I3 has an extension l5 forward from the side I! of the frame II and has a slot I8 (Fig. 3) at the root of the V.

The mandrel I6 is rotated by a crank I9 adapted to be clamped to mandrels of different diameters by means of a set screw 2 l. A bolt, washer, and wing-nut arrangement 22 is used to retain the end 23 of a sprin wire as to the mandrel it. An upper V jaw 26 consisting of jaw portions 2'! and 28 matches the portions l3 and M of the lower V jaw I2 and in cooperation therewith holds the mandrel. l6. both rotatably and slidably in the jaws.

The upper V jaw 26 is slidably mounted to guide ways 29 on the frame It and is adjustablevertically by means of the set screw 3'! extending through an overhanging portion 32 oi the'guideways 29. A clamp 33 which is actuated by a knurled hand knob 34 serves to lock the upper jaw 26 in any selected position. To provide better support for mandrels of small diameter, the upper jaw portions 21 and 25 have extensions 36 thereon, extending over'the lowerjaw portions and cut away as at 351 (Fig. 3) to permit the extensions 36 to enter into the root of the V of ithe lower jaw [2.

n the lower end of the face i? is mounted a wiretensioning means 38. This consists prima rily of a reciprocable plate 39, mounted on the shaft 4|. The plate 39 is biased toward the frame H and against the floating wear plate 42 "by meansof the springs 43 and ti l, bearing between the face 46 on the frame, and the nut 41! "which travels on the threaded portion 68 of the shaft 4!. The lighter spring 44, which in its unstressed state is longer than the spring'llt, is

used to obtain light tension for small diameter wires. By threading the nut t l toward the face 46, the tension is increased, and a sharp rise in tension isobtained when the heavy spring 43 is jengaged.- A cam 49, adjacent the end of the *shaftll and actuated by a crank 52,-serves, when the surface portion 53 of the cam ie is bearing against the end El of the shaft ll, to separate the plate 39 from the wear plate 42, thereby fa- I ellitating the insertion or removal of spring wire "g lfromthetensloning means 38.

' Below the tensioning means as and in an extended portion Myof the frame H, are preliminarygu-ide holes 56 which guide the wire 24% be- 'i'ore it enters the tensioning means 38.

'Mounted on the face ll of -the frame H, by means of a bracket 51, and engaging the wire 24 between the tensioning means 38 and the mandrel I6, is an adjustable guide button 58, which "positions the wire 24 against the face 59 of the extension on the jaw portion l3.

To permit adjustment of the position-of the button 58,

' which normally varies with the size of mandrel in use, the bracket El is slotted as at 5!, thereby permitting linear as well as angular adjustment of the bracket 51. After proper positioning, the

bracket 51 is clamped in place by means of the screw 62 The button 58 is also adjustable towardand away from the frame H by means of a set screw 60 to compensate for different diameters of wire in use.

Preliminary guide .holes 56, guide buttons 58, and brackets .51 areprovided on both sides of the mandrel to make it possible to wind either right hand or left .handsprings Arguidememberfit is reciprocably mounted on the frame H below the mandrel H3 parallel to the axis of the mandrel. In a clamp 64 on the end of the guide member 63 adjacent the face :l loftheframe, an adjustable anvil 56 is mounted transversely adjustable :to "the guide member 63 and reciprocates with the guidemember 63 in the slot H3. The adjustability of the anvil 66 is provided to :allow use of mandrels of diifere'nt anvil 6'6. which bears against the wire.

diameters. Anvil 68, while in use, is positioned adjacent the mandrel l6 to press against the wire 24 being wound on the mandrel in a direction parallel to the axis of the mandrel and away small diameters.

Mountedto the frame i l, spaced from and parallelto the guide member 63, is a threaded limit membertt having mounted thereon pairs of limit stops 6S and H which can be selectively positioned along the limit member 68. The limit stops 69 and ll are provided in pairs so that when the position of stop 69, for example, is determined, the adjacent stop can be brought against it to lock the stop'fit in position.

A stop dog 52, secured to the guide member 63. hasa yoke arm 13 extending between the limit stops 69 and ll, and straddling the limit member 63. The. dog l2. therebylimits reciprocation. of the guide member 63 and consequently the anvil 66.

Linked to the dogl2 by means of coupling links M and 15 and a shaft 16 extending through a boss 1! on the frame II, is a handle 18. which serves to reciprocate the guide member '63.. A pawl 19 is pivotally'secured to the lever arm 8! of the handle "i3. and is biased by the. spring .82 secured. to the end 83 thereof to. engage an arcuate member as, secured to the frame, having ratchet-teeth afi'thereon. The arcuate member 34 is secured to the irame l I by means of screws 87 passing through slots Bil in the arcuate member 84. This permits an angular adjustment of member as to be attained by turning the set screw .89 thereby eliminating backlash between the pawl 79 and the ratchet teeth 86. The pawl it is released from the ratchet teeth .66 by pressure against the bias of spring 82, on a shaft 9i extending through the length of the handle 18 steps are iollowed: V

The proper size mandrel l6, suitable for the internal diameter of the spring to be wound, is selected. The crank I9 is secured to the mandrel 16 by means of the set screw 2| and the mandrel is inserted into the lower V jaw 12. The upper V jaw -26 is moved down the guideways 29 by means of the set screw 3| until it bears on the mandrel Hi. The set screw BI is backed off one-half turn so that the mandrel may-turn easily. The upper V jaw 25 is then locked into this position by means of the clamp 33, actuated *by the knob 34. 65-

' mined, and the travel of the guide member 63 is The pitch of the spring to be made is deterset by the limit stops 69 and H, which are then locked into position by the adjoining lock nuts. The pitch measurement is taken from. the face 59 of the extension l5 to the front face 61 of the anvil 6.6. The-anvil 66 is 'then'adjusted in the clamp 64 at the end of the guide member 63, to contact the mandrel.

The handle 18,'which actuates the reciprocal motion of the guide member, is thrown forward 7 (Fig. 4 until the yoke arm 13 on the dog I2 is in contact with the limit stops 89. In this position the pawl 19 on the handle 18should be in engagement with one of the teeth 86 of the arcuate member 84. Should the pitch setting be at a point such that the pawl 19 does not engage one of teeth 86 without backlash, the screws 81 are loosened and the arcuate member 84 is shifted by means of the set screw 89 until the slack is taken up, whereupon the screws 81 are tightened again.

Following the pitch setting, the guide button 58 is adjusted, according to the diameter of the wire to be used, to hold the wire against the face l5 of the lower V jaw.

Tension on the tensioning means 38 is regulated by turning the nut 41 on the shaft 4 I. The small spring 44 develops light tension for small wire and the larger spring comes into play when heavy tension is required. The crank 52 is then used to actuate the cam 49 to relieve the spring tension so that wire may be threaded between the plates 39 and 42.

Wire is threaded as follows: through the preliminary guide hole 56, between the tension plates 39 and 42, behind the guide button 58, against the face [5, over the mandrel l6, and is secured to the handle is by the bolt, washer, and wing nut arrangement 22. The crank 52, actuating the tensioning means 38, is then returned to permit the plate 39 to close, thereby applying tension to the wire. The apparatus is now set up to wind springs.

The drawings (Figs. 1 and 3) illustrate the set up for a right hand spring. To wind a left hand spring, the wire is threaded from the opposite side.

Suppose, for example, that a number of compression springs having closed ends and three open coils is required. The wire 24 has already been threaded and secured, and the mandrel and crank is are at the extreme right hand position (Fig. l). The handle '18 is also at the extreme right hand position, withdrawing anvil 66 into theslot I8. The crank i9 is turned to form several closed coils to start the spring. Then the handle 18 is moved to the left (Fig. 4) until movement is stopped by abutment of the arm 13 against the limit stop 69, and the pawl!!! engages one of the ratchet teeth 86. thereby moving the anvil 65 out of the slot I8 to determine the pitch of the spring and preventing movement of guide member 63 and anvil 66 mounted thereon away from the wire on said mandrel. The mandrel is given three turns, one for each open coil desired. When the open coils have been wound, the pawl 79 is released from the teeth 86 by depressing the shaft 9!, and the handle 18 is again moved to the right hand position. The

mandrel is then turned to wind the required number of closed coils, and the spring is complete.

One open coil for cut-off purposes is wound by movin the handle 18 to the left and turning the mandrel one turn. The handle 18 is then moved back to the right to form closed coils and the operation of winding a complete spring is again begun.

The above procedure is repeated until the mandrel is filled. The coiled wire is removed from the mandrel and cut apart at the open coil left between the springs. The ends are then formed as required.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light 6 of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

l. A spring winding apparatus comprising a frame adapted to receive mandrels of different diameters for winding spring wire thereon; a guide member mounted on said frame for back and forth movement substantially parallel to the axis of the mandrel and having a face adjacent the mandrel surface disposed to press against the Wire wound on the mandrel in a direction parallel to the mandrel and away from said frame, thereby to determine the spacing between the coils of a wire spring being wound on the mandrel; a limit member mounted to said frame substantially parallel to said guide member, limit stops on one of said members adapted to be selectively spaced along said one member; a stop dog secured to the other of said members and extending between said stops for limiting the back and forth movement of said guide member and a handle connected to said guide member to selectively move said guide member back and forth.

2. A spring winding apparatus comprising a frame adapted to receive mandrels of different diameters for winding spring wire thereon; a uide member mounted on said frame and reciprocable substantially parallel to the axis of the mandrel and having a face adjacent the mandrel surface disposed to press against the wire wound on the mandrel in a direction parallel to the mandrel and away from said frame, thereby to determine the spacing between the coils of a wire spring being wound on the mandrel; a limit member mounted to said frame substantially parallel to said guide member and having limit stops thereon adapted to be selectively positioned along said limit member; a stop dog secured to said guide member and extending between said stops for limiting the extent of 'reciprocation of said guide member; and a handle connected to said guide member to reciprocate said guide member.

3. A spring winding apparatus comprising 'a frame having a lower V jaw mounted thereon adapted to receive mandrels of different diameters; a portion of said lower V jaw extending forward from one side of said frame, said portion having a slot at the root of the V; an adjustable guide button mounted on said frame, engaging the wire and disposed to position the wire against the face of said extending portion of said lower V jaw; a guide member mounted on said frame and reciprocable substantially parallel to the axis of said mandrel and having a transversely adjustable anvil mounted on the end thereof and reciprocable in said slot, said anvil being adapted to press against the wire wound on said mandrel in a direction parallel to said mandrel and away from said frame, thereby to determine the spacing between the coils of a wire spring being wound on said mandrel; a limit member mounted to said frame substantially parallel to said guide member and having limit stops thereon adapted to be selectively positioned along said limit member; a stop dog secured to said guide member and extending between said stops for limiting the extent of reciprocation of 8 positioned along said limit member: a stop dog secured to said guide member and extending'between said stops for limiting the extent of reciprocation of said guide member; a handle [conmandrel surface disposed to press against the wirewound on the mandrel in a direction parallel .to the mandrel and away from said frame, thereby to determine the spacing between the coilsof a wire spring being wound on the mand'rel; a limit member mounted to said frame sub stantially parallel to said guide member and having limit stops thereon adapted to be selectively positioned alongsaid limit member; a stop dog seeuredto said guide member and extending between said stops for limiting the extent of reciprocation of said guide member; a handle connected to said guide member to reciprocate said guide member, and means for locking said guide member'in one of its positions.

5. A spring winding apparatus comprising a frame adapted to receive mandrels of different diameters for winding spring wire thereon; a guide member mounted on said frame and reciprocable substantially parallel to the axis of the mandrel and having a face adjacent the mandrel surface disposed to press against the wire wound on the mandrel in a direction parallel to the mandrel and away from said frame. thereby to determine the spacing between the coils of a wire spring being wound on the mandrel; .a limit member mounted to said frame substantially parallel to said guide member and having limit stops thereon adapted to be selectively positioned along said limit member; a stop dog secured tosaid guide member and extending between said stops for limiting the extent of areciprooation of said guide member; a handle connected to said'guicle member to reciprocate said guide member, and means for locking said guide member inione of its positions, said locking means comprising an arcuate member having ratchet teeth thereon, a pawl mounted on said handle to engage said ratchet wheel to prevent movement of the guide member away fromthe wire on said mandrel, and means mounted on said handle for releasing said pawl from said ratchet teeth.

6'. ,A spring winding apparatus comprising a frame having a lower V jaw mounted thereon adapted to receive mandrels of different diameters; a portion of said lower V jaw extending forward from one side of said frame, said portion having a slot at the root of the V; an adjustable guide button mounted on said frame, engaging the wire and disposed to position the wire against the face of said extending portion Qof said lower V'jaw; a guide member mounted therebyto determine the spacing between the coils of a wire spring beingwound on said mandrel; a limit member mounted to said frame substantially parallel to said guide member and having limit. stops thereon adapted to be selectively nected to said guide member to selectively reciprocate saidigguide member, and means for looking said guide member in one of its positions, said locking means comprising an arcuate member having ratchet teeth thereon, a'pawl mounted on said handle to engage said ratchet teethto prevent movement of said guide member and said anvil mounted thereon away from the wire 7 on said mandrel, and means mounted on said handle for releasing said pawl from said ratchet teeth.

7, A spring winding apparatus comprising a frame having a lower V jaw mounted-thereon adapted to receive'mandrels of different diameters; a portion of said lower V jaw extending forward from one side of said frame, said portion having aslot at the root of the V; an adjustable guide button mounted on said'frame. engaging the wire and disposed to position the wire against the face of saidextending portion of said lower V jaw; a guide member mounted on said frame and reciprocable substantially parallel to the axis of said mandrel and having a transversely adjustable anvil mounted on the end thereof and reciprocable in said slot, said anvil being adapted to press against the wire wound 'on said mandrel in a direction parallel to said mandrel and away from said frame.

-.nected to said guide member to-selectively reciprocate said guide member, and means for locking said guide member in one of its positions, said locking means comprising an arcuate member having ratchet teeth thereon, a pawl mounted on said handle to engage said ratchet teeth to prevent movement 'of-said guide member and said anvil mounted thereon away from the wire on said mandrel, and means mounted on said handle for releasing said pawl from said ratchet teeth, said pawl being spring biased to engage the ratchet teeth, and being releasable by said releasing means against the bias of the pawl spring. a l

V 8. A spring winding apparatus comprising a frame having a lower V jaw mounted thereon adaptedto receive mandrels of different diameters; a portion of said lower V jaw extendingforward from one side of said frame, said portion having a slot at the root of the V; an adjustable guide button mounted on said frame, engaging the wire and disposed to position the wire against the face of said extending-portion of said lower V jaw; a guide member mounted on said frame and reciprccable substantially 1 parallel to'the axis of said mandrel and having a transversely adjustable anvil mounted on the end thereof and reciprocable in said slot, said anvil being adapted topr-ess against the wire wound on said mandrel in a direction parallel to said mandrel and away from said frame, thereby to determine the spacing between-the coils of a wire spring being woundon said mandrel, a limit member mounted to said frame substantially parallel to said guide member and having limit stops thereon adapted to be selectively positioned along said limit member; a stop dog secured to said guide member and extending between said stops for limiting the extent of reciprocation of said guide member; a handle connected to said guide member to selectively reciprocate said guide member, and means for looking said guide member in one of its positions, said locking means comprising an arcuate member having ratchet teeth thereon, a pawl mounted on said handle to engage said ratchet teeth to prevent movement of said guide member and said anvil mounted thereon away from the wire on said mandrel, means mounted on said handle for releasing said pawl from said ratchet teeth, and means for angularly adjusting said ratchet teeth to eliminate backlash.

CHARLES R. OBERG.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 542,116 Stephenson July 2, 1895 865,116 Moore Sept. 3, 1907 923,563 McCornack June 1, 1909 963,512 Butterworth July 5, 1910 1,253,782 Bryan Jan. 15, 1918 1,553,716 Plexico Sept. 15, 1925 1,622,530 Miller Mar. 29, 1927 1,671,983 Faust June 5, 1928 2,052,443 Blaner Aug. 25, 1936 2,162,684 Wenn June 13, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 560,498 France July 11, 1923 

